A West Nile virus expert breaks down NYC's case surge

In New York City, there have been more human cases of West Nile virus this year than in all of 2025. The Health Department reports that about two dozen people have been diagnosed so far, with three months still left in the season. Kiran Thakur, MD, director of the Program in Neuroinfectious Diseases in the Department of Neurology at NewYork-Presbyterian/Columbia University Irving Medical Center, spoke with Sean Carlson of WNYC News about the spike in cases—what may be driving it, how the virus is transmitted, the symptoms to watch for, and the health threats it may pose, particularly for higher-risk groups such as older adults, immunocompromised people, and those with chronic conditions. Dr. Thakur also shared practical steps everyone can take to help prevent infection. [listen to the interview]

Source: WNYC News